DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DETECTIVE CONAN.

Note: Advanced apologies for the wrong Japanese terms in the story. and for the OOC's.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAKASE

I have returned! Here's a little sneak peak to what's going to happen for next week's official update.

Thank you for all those who followed and favorited the story. Hope you enjoy this until the end :)

Enjoy! :D

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Conan waited for Haibara to show up in class. And she didn't. The young detective was confused. So confused that he hated what was going on. He always knew how to solve a problem, he could always figure it out. But right now, Sherry is a puzzle bothering his peace of mind.

"Mitsuhiko." Ayumi called the freckled boy. "Hey Mitsuhiko!" she shook him by the shoulder. Conan noticed how much Mitsuhiko has been spacing out the whole day and remembered that he brought Haibara home the other day. That has got something to do with his odd behavior today. I hope that Haibara-san didn't do anything that makes her child self out of character. Thought the detective boy.

"Oh gomen (sorry) Ayumi-chan. Do shimashita ka (What's wrong)?" Mitsuhiko fixated his eyes on Ayumi to show her he was listening.

"I'm worried for Ai-chan. I heard that she almost had an accident. Is she alright?"

"E to, un (Uh, yeah)."

"We should stop by at Hakase's." she suggested.

"Yeah. I heard Hakase has a new game!" exclaimed Genta. Oi, oi, weren't you listening to them? Conan wanted to roll his eyes on Genta.

"Genta-kun is so insensitive! We're going there to visit Ai-chan!" You made Ayumi mad and that's never a good thing.

"Of course I'm worried too. We're all going to Hakase's and Haibara-san lives there too. What's the difference?"

"You're there for the game." Mitsuhiko said and the two scowled at Genta.

"I give up! I give up!" Seriously Genta, at least pretend that you care. For Ayumi's sake.

"Conan-kun is coming too, right?" Ayumi turned to the young detective.

"Hai."

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And so the kids walked to Agasa's house as soon as the bell rang. They knocked on the door but no one responded.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Maybe you're not knocking hard enough." said Genta.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

He knocked harder but no one still responded.

"Maybe Hakase's not home." Conan told them. The three kids were gathered in front of the door, knocking at the same time as Conan stood behind them.

"But if Ai-chan is sick, she should be here."

"She could be sleeping. Maybe we shouldn't disturb her." Mitsuhiko sounded worried, hoping they didn't bother Haibara's sleep, if she were.

"But what about the game?" Genta said without even thinking the words he just said.

"Hakase's not here. So maybe we should come back another time." Conan said without interest and turned around to walk home. "Come on." The three kids exchanged looks and followed his lead. It was then that they heard the door creaked open and they all stopped following Conan.

"Conan-kun!" Ayumi called and Conan turned to see the opened door.

"Was the door open all along?" Conan muttered.

"Haibara-san opened the door for us." said Mitsuhiko and entered the house. Conan shrugged and followed. He didn't want to leave the kids in the hands of Sherry. Even if she showed that she's done good deeds to them.

"Haibara.." Conan wanted to say something while the kids were in the living room.

"Shitte iru (I know)." she said and walked towards the children but Conan held her back.

"You do?" How could she know? Was Ayumi right about Haibara being able to read me? I'm predictable to her?

"Un (Yeah). So let's tell the kids together." she said and pulled her hand away.

"Tell the kids? What are you thinking?" He mumbled.

"Ai-chan, how are you feeling? You didn't go to school today." Ayumi said with a worred look.

"Gomennasai (I'm sorry) Yoshida-san, I got caught up with a big plan for Hakase." Haibara replied with a grin.

"Speaking of Hakase, where is he?" said Genta. Oi, oi, you're still going for the game?

"I told him to buy stuff that doesn't exist." Haibara said and went to the kitchen.

"Haibara-san, you're so mean!" Genta, get over it.

"I needed him to go away while I prepare a small party for him." Haibara said and took a small piece of paper that was pasted on the fridge. Conan was surprised. Small party? The more he's with Haibara, the more he gets confused of her instead of getting to know her. "It's Hakase's birthday."

"EH?!" the kids were all shocked, including little tantei-san. Haibara walked back towards them, giving Conan the paper. It was his handwriting when he was still Shinichi. 'Hakase, Happy Birthday! I don't have a present yet, so I sent you a note. :)' Conan read the note in surprise. Hakase kept my note? I remember not being able to give him an actual present after giving him this.

"H- Hakase's birthday?" Conan said in disbelief. "T- That's today?" Haibara nodded.

"Tondemonai (No way)! How could we forget Hakase's birthday?" Ayumi sounded disappointed in herself.

"W- We should start setting up then." Mitsuhiko said, crashing his fist in his palm. "Where do we get the materials?"

"Haibara-san, you've been here all day and this place isn't even set up yet." Genta said the obvious. The rest looked around the house and found no decorations of some sort.

"I still had to prepare the decorations without being seen, Kojima-kun." Haibara told him coldly. Her icy blue eyes staring him down, giving him shivers.

"So- Sou ka (I- I see)." he scratched the back of his head in understanding.

"Let's get started then." Mitsuhiko said with passion. "Haibara-san, where are the decorations?"

"Upstairs in my room." she replied to him with a warm smile. Genta could finally breathe when Haibara's glare went away. "I'll show you."

"Haibara, would it be alright if we call more people?" Conan suggested, but his voice was rather weak, making it like a mumble. But Haibara heard it.

"Sure. After all, I don't know who else Hakase wanted to invite. I'm sure you know him better than I do." What Haibara told Conan, was just between them. Genta, Mitsuhiko and Ayumi didn't understand what she meant, but they knew there was something between them.

"R- Right. Well, I'll be back!" Conan said in a hurry and left.

XXXXX

Conan walked to the agency, thinking. That evil Haibara made me worry! I thought for sure she was going to tell the Detective Boys about our secret. She got me real good back there.

FLASHBACK

"Haibara.." Conan wanted to say something while the kids were in the living room.

"Shitte iru (I know)." she said and walked towards the children but Conan held her back.

"You do?"

"Un (Yeah). So let's tell the kids together." she said and pulled her hand away.

END

'I know'. Tsk! I hate you for making my heart jump like that! But then... there's two possibilities. Either you really know what I was gonna say or you assumed. The boy massages his temple. Darn that Haibara, always giving me the headaches. When he got to the agency, he hurried upstairs.

"Ran-neechan, Tadaima (I'm home)!" he said but there was no one around. "Ran-neechan?"

He went upstairs to his room and saw Ran doing her homework. He sighed in his inmost thoughts. Oi Ran, don't scare me like that.

"Oh Conan-kun, okaerinasai (welcome back)." she greeted him with a smile.

"Ran-neechan, did you know that it's Hakase's birthday today?" he said as he approached her.

"Eh? Hontoni (Really)?" I guess even Ran forgot about it.

"Un (Yeah). Haibara and the others are preparing for a celebration." Conan was still working on constructing the words to invite Ran. But he didn't have to.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's call everyone!"

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At Agasa's house, Mitsuhiko, Ayumi, Haibara and Genta were busy setting everything up. Or well, it was what everyone thought until Haibara caught Genta eating the food she made for Agasa.

"H- Haibara-san..." Genta trembled inside and out with Haibara's deadly glare. "G- Gomen (S- Sorry)."

Ayumi and Mitsuhiko gave each other the look saying 'You're at it again, Genta'. So Mitsuhiko ran to his rescue and went in between Genta and Haibara before Haibara does anything out of the blue.

"Hey Genta, you should be the lookout. Just in case Hakase comes back earlier than expected." Mitsuhiko said as he pushed Genta away from the kitchen. "Isoide, isoide (hurry up, hurry up)!"

Ayumi watched Mitsuhiko push Genta out of harm's way and made Ayumi wonder. Ai-chan looks really scary when angry, but deep inside Ayumi-chan knows Ai-chan is a good person. I can see it when she smiles. But.. but why does she push everyone away?

XXXXX

Ran and the others finally arrived to help. When they were done, Haibara called Agasa to ask where he was. Haibara restrained herself from laughing when Agasa told her he was still looking for the items that Haibara wanted him to buy. She told him to go home and there it was.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAKASE!

He was cut speechless. He couldn't believe it in his own eyes. His birthday was celebrated. His house was decorated too. Everyone was there. Everyone was happy to see him, celebrating his birthday.

"I- I don't know what to say." he said with a beam on his face. "A- Arigato minna (T- Thank you everyone)!"

"So Hakase, how old are you?" Sonoko asked. Oi, oi, isn't that a rude thing to ask?

"S- Sonoko!"

"Hakase, we made you a cake!" Ayumi said in delight.

"You did?" Agasa sounded really surprised. The Detective Boys never made him anything before, this is the first time.

"Haibara-san helped us." Mitsuhiko added. The professor's smile widened even more. It made sense now. Haibara set him up.

"Agasa-hakase, do you want to eat first or open the presents first?" said Masumi.

"Presents?" Another addition to the surprise for the professor.

"Everyone had to do a quick run for the gift." Ran explained. "All of us managed to get something." Agasa couldn't help but leave tears of joy in his eyes. It was the best birthday he's ever had.

"H- Hakase, w- why are you crying?" Genta asked.

"Arigatogozaimashita, minna (Thank you very much, everyone!)" Agasa said as he lowered his head in front of everyone. Tears falling in joy. Everyone felt how happy he was. Everyone just stood there, waiting for the professor to say something else, except the small auburn girl who walked towards him, she held a small box wrapped in a blue gift wrap with balloons all over it,

"Hakase, happy birthday." she said. The professor gazed at the grinning little girl.

"Ai-kun, arigato (thank you)!" he took the gift from her hand and gave her a fatherly hug. Haibara felt warm. Again, she felt safe. Her heart raced in a good way. Joy. Excitement. But it all changed seconds after he let her go. Her heart ached.

"Let's eat while opening the presents!" Agasa told everyone.

Everyone was happy. They all started eating, chatting, looking at Agasa's gifts. It was a memorable night. Agasa was at the kitchen, preparing food for himself when Conan approached him.

"Hakase, I uh.. I'm sorry for not giving you the present I mentioned back when I gave you this note." He said and pulled the piece of paper out of his pocket. Agasa took the paper from his hand and smiled at him.

"You know, Shinichi, I don't hold a grudge for not receiving anything from you." he said. "I'm actually happy that at least you remembered my birthday."' Hakase...

"Sodesu ka (is that so)? Well then," he pulled a small box out of his pocket and gave it to the professor. "here. It's for you."

Agasa took it curiously and when he opened it, he couldn't help but smile even more.

"Shinichi- I can't-"

"it's for the years that I've missed your birthday."

It was a chip with a letter attached to it. Agasa was invited to a gaming company when they saw his work.

"Arigato." he said and hugged the boy.

"Oh Hakase, I'm just curious. What did Haibara give you?"

"I haven't opened it yet. I saw a note telling me not to open it until a month has passed." Agasa said, remembering that he saw a small note in Haibara's present.

"Speaking of her, I haven't seen Haibara since that little stunt she pulled off. Where is she?"

"Probably in her room. I guess she's not used to having such people around. Or she knows you invited someone she doesn't want to see."

"Hakase, you know?"

"Ai-kun told me everything." Sherry did? She told Hakase but not me? What is she thinking? And what's in that box?

XXXXX

Conan joined everyone else at the party and walked towards Subaru Okiya (Akai Shuichi in disguise). Akemi was with him, but also in disguise.

"She looked happy." Akemi said. Conan and Akai couldn't say if she was happy or not.

"Where did she go anyway?" Subaru asked.

"Hiding. I don't want to disturb her." Conan wanted to check on her, but a part of him was telling him not to.

XXXXX

Inside Haibara's room, she was biting down on a cloth real hard as she clutched her heart. She was literally rolling left and right on the floor as she released muffled screams. Her heart was aching real bad. Her head throbbed real hard, like a hundred horses running around on the inside of her head. Tears fell from her eyes as the agonizing pain continued, it didn't seem to end.

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Well, sorry if I was long gone. Hope this made up for it.